MR. LLOYD MORGAN (Carmarthen, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, (1) whether, amongst the Measures referred to in the Speech from the Throne which the Government contemplate introducing during this Session to mitigate the distress under which the agricultural classes suffer, it is intended to introduce a Bill to reduce the heavy railway rates and charges which press so heavily on farmers; and, (2) whether the Government intend to introduce legislation to either revise or abolish the preferential terms given by railway companies for long distances and foreign traffic.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) CroydonMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Having regard to the recent legislation on the subject of rates, I am not prepared to say that I think it is desirable to introduce any such Measure this Session. As regards the latter part of the hon. and learned Member's question, I must remind him that undue preference has been already dealt with by the Legislature in the Railway and Canal Traffic Acts of 1854 and 1888.